Delaware Hayes Roundup

Godfrey returns to lead boys golfers

Buy This PhotoJOSHUA A. BICKEL/THISWEEKSPORTS Delaware Hayes junior Dan Van Brimmer follows a fairway shot during the second round of the OCC-Capital tournament Aug. 12 at Darby Creek. Van Brimmer is among the top returnees for the Pacers and 22nd-year coach Mile Nesselroad.

Buy This PhotoJOSHUA A. BICKEL/THISWEEKSPORTS Junior Anna Adams returns for the Hayes girls tennis team and new coach Julieanne McClain.

At a glance

Aug. 23 -- Panther Run to Fun at Mills Creek Golf Course in Sandusky in opener

BOYS SOCCER

Aug. 21 -- Home vs. Northland in opener

Aug. 23 -- At Reynoldsburg

GIRLS SOCCER

Aug. 19 -- Home vs. Thomas Worthington in opener

Aug. 21 -- Home vs. Northland

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

*Aug. 21 -- At Worthington Kilbourne

Aug. 23 -- Sharon Huesman Memorial Quad at Hilliard Davidson

*League contest

Junior Grant Godfrey again is being counted on to lead the Delaware Hayes High School boys golf team.

He tied for 28th among 72 competitors in the Division I state tournament last season, shooting a 167 in the two-day, 36-hole event on Ohio State's Scarlet Course, and has continued to improve.

"Grant had another really great summer," 22nd-year coach Mike Nesselroad said. "He won the three matches (in which) he competed in the Central Ohio Golf Association and he finished eighth in the Optimist Junior (ages 16-18 in West Palm Beach, Fla.) and was third going into the final round. ...

"He competed against strong competition all summer and I think he's got a chance to compete at state and do much better than last year. He shot a 68 at OSU-Scarlet in one (of the COGA tournaments)."

Also returning are seniors Cole Haferman and Lali Lakatos and junior Dan Van Brimmer. Completing the roster are sophomores David Kelly, Sam Midura and Gabe Phillips.

"Haferman is a fourth-year player and I think he'll step it up this year," Nesselroad said. "Lakatos and Van Brimmer are third-year varsity players who I believe will be much better at the end of the season.

"Kelly has been impressive considering last year at this time he was playing his first round. Phillips is showing some promise and Midura had a back injury last year, so I expect him to come along just fine."

Godfrey shot a 74 in last year's sectional at Granville Golf Course, the best round among the three individual district qualifiers. The Pacers finished ninth (345) in the 13-team field as champion Dublin Jerome (300), St. Charles (301) and Upper Arlington (304) advanced.

Godfrey became the school's third state qualifier, joining Tim Ailes in 1988 and Travis Dalton in 1986, by shooting a 73 in the district tournament at Apple Valley. That tied for the low individual-qualifying round and was third overall.

Delaware finished seventh (7-21) in the OCC-Capital Division behind champion New Albany (27-1). Godfrey finished fourth (76.0) in league average and was first-team all-league.

The Pacers opened Aug. 6 in the Chuck Otte Memorial at Oakhurst, placing 10th (378) of 14 teams behind champion Hilliard Davidson (304). They played host to the Fidelity Federal Invitational on Aug. 8 at Oakhaven and finished third (339) of six teams behind champion Big Walnut (326).

Delaware opened league play Aug. 7 at Apple Valley and placed fifth (331) behind New Albany (314), Olentangy Orange (318), Mount Vernon (321) and Olentangy (323) and ahead of Big Walnut (350) and Worthington Kilbourne (360). Franklin Heights did not have enough golfers for a team score.

Godfrey was medalist by three shots in the league and also was medalist in the Fidelity Federal Invitational. He shot 73 in both events.

In the second round of league play Aug. 12 at Darby Creek, Delaware finished seventh (360) behind New Albany (314), Orange (318), Mount Vernon (321), Olentangy (323), Kilbourne (331) and Big Walnut (350). Godfrey (73) was medalist by three shots.

Godfrey also was medalist (67) in the Worthington Invitational on Aug. 13 at Glenross, as the Pacers finished eighth (337) of 12 teams behind champion Mount Vernon (307).

Pacers have first girls golf team

They are joined this season by junior Angela King and freshmen Riley Geiger and Kelly Horvath. Coach Steve Lehman is hoping to add a few more players in the coming weeks.

"I would like the more experienced players to consistently break 90 and our less experienced players to break 110 for an 18-hole match," he said. "I also hope they learn to enjoy golf as a life-long activity and appreciate what their hard work and effort can do as they improve their game."

Barger, Hager and Confer competed in a Division I sectional at Oakhaven last season.

"Barger is in her fifth year of competitive golf, having played her seventh- and eighth-grade years on our middle school team and her freshman year on our boys j.v. team. Last year, she played in all four OCC girls (tournaments)," Lehman said. "Hager participated in three OCC matches in her first year of competitive golf."

The Pacers opened Aug. 6 in the OCC-Cardinal tournament at The Links at Groveport and finished last (490) behind Jerome (306), Liberty (365), Olentangy (371), Pickerington Central (408), New Albany (422) and Orange (430).

Delaware competed in the second round of league play Aug. 12 at Westchester but did not have a full team. Jerome (287) won ahead of Liberty (333), Olentangy (344), Central (380), New Albany (397) and Orange (404).

Girls tennis team looking to improve

The girls tennis team has a new look, as its entire postseason lineup was lost to graduation and Julieanne McClain has replaced Bob Claymier as coach.

"We are a rebuilding team this year and we are looking to improve in all areas in order to increase our competitiveness among central Ohio teams," said McClain, whose team opened Aug. 13 by losing to visiting Hilliard Bradley 5-0 and begins league play Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Kilbourne.

Senior Noel Beyer-Hermsen and junior Anna Adams earned playing time last season, when none of the Pacers advanced to the district tournament.

Since the roster had not been finalized entering the week, McClain said other contributors may include seniors Victoria Mason and Jordan Willis, juniors Shaelyn Bendele, Sophia London and Jessie O'Brien and sophomores Sarah Homan and Kelsey Patrick.

The Pacers finished sixth (17 points, 2-5) in the OCC-Capital last season behind champion New Albany (41, 7-0). They tied host Newark for third (7) in the sixth-place OCC tournament behind Marysville (16) and ahead of Canal Winchester (5).